MOSTLY AUTUMN - Catch The Spirit

I'm not sure why I avoided Mostly Autumn for so long. A tad too hey nonny no? A hobbit too far? Perhaps the fact that every Jethro Tull fan of my acquaintance loves them? Never got Tull either.

Anyway, it was time to bite the bullet, and dive into not one, but two CDs of Mostly Autumn. Working on the principle that a best of would sort wheat from chaff, it was off to ye locale markete.

Apparently, this is a replacement for the previous one CD best of "Heroes Never Die", which seems a bit cheeky as there were only four studio discs prior to this. But in a clever marketing ploy, this features "stunning new arrangements of the essential songs". So we can sell it to the punters who have the albums and the existing best of. Tut, tut.

Basically, the songs fall into two categories. The whirlymagig sub "Lord Of The Rings" tosh, and the rather splendid Pink Floydian workouts. Which means it veers from utter garbage like "The Riders Of Rohan" to the so good I've wet myself splendour of "Never The Rainbow". Aided and abetted by the twin vocals of Bryan Josh and the luscious Heather Finlayson, I can fully understand why Mostly Autumn appeal to the starved prog masses. I'd like to see some more vocal interplay, as it seem sto be turn about singing, rather than fully harmonic, but stripped of the dungeons and dragons malarkey, this is the sound of a very good band.

Amongst the highlights are "With This Great Blue Pearl", all mid period Genesis and the aforementioned Hammond drenched "Never The Rainbow". "Shrinking Violet" is positively gothic in feel, all Julianne Regan mixed with Dave Gilmour guitar solo. Could have lost the choir though. Chuck in a few faux folk numbers like "Winter Mountain" and overall, it's well worth a visit.


LIVING WITH EATING DISORDERS - More Than This (demo)

What with rave reviews from me, the band signing up with Something To Listen To Records, a new independent label, alongside Audiodummi (feat. Ville Valo of HIM), and interest from producer John Fryer ( of Depeche Mode, Clan Of Xymox fame), things are quietly building up around LWED. And so it should be.

There's 3 tracks on this here paracetamol enhanced CD, and it's all good. The new songs "Envy", "Fading Softly" and "Lullaby" continue in the vein of "Selling Self Hate". Impossible to categorise. It's a rare trick developing a style all your own these days, bur LWED have managed, due in no small measure to Andrea's distinctive voice, veering from Curve-aceous to roaring, often in the space of a single word.

"Fading Softly" may well be the finest song they've recorded yet, all Rain Tree Crow and "Spirit Of Eden" with the notion of a barely disguised fragility and the feeling it's all going to go off NOW!, This is a disturbing, intriguing must have.

http://www.livingwitheatingdisorders.com/


ROOT DECO - Dragon Rings a Bell

Root Deco’s philosophy is that the golden age of music occurred between 1960 and 1967 although I would say they have soaked up a lot of the right kind of influences since these halcyon days. The message they get across in their lyrics is serious but often delivered with a humour that’s in abundance as a visit to their web site www.rootdeco.com will testify.
There are twelve tracks on this CD that maintain a consistently high standard of song writing and playing. I was reminded of Big Country at their best at times and the incorporation of traditional folk based music with heavy rock works a treat. This is evident in the opening track ‘Kind of More or Less’ and in the concluding song ‘Subway to Paradise’ (phenomenal drumming on this track) and also at points in between. It’s hard to pick favourites but ‘Maybe Someday’, ‘Piper’ and the Groundhogs feel of ‘Shallow Man’ take some beating! It’s astonishing to think that most of this amazing music is produced by a duo- Paul Johnson on drums and vocals and Larry Vilchek on guitars, vocals and harmonica. Larry also writes most of the songs with an assist from Paul on ‘What Can I Say?’ Bob Schlabach provides bass on four songs, lead guitar on one and lead vocal on another so at times Root Deco do operate as a trio.
My advice to you is to check out this incredible band from Annandale, Virginia without delay- ‘Dragon Rings a Bell’ goes, without hesitation, straight onto my recommended releases list for 2003.

Available from The Rocker (Reviewed by Phil Jackson)


ERIC ANDERS - Not at One

I was literally spellbound when listening to this CD as LA’s Eric Anders’ balmy intonations assuage the senses in the finest of poetic and romantic traditions. It is no coincidence than that an E.E. Cummings poem adorns the back sleeve!
The song writing quality is consistently high throughout this twelve track album although I would like to make a special case for ‘Halcyon Days’ with its brooding Hammond organ.

‘Leave You Doubtful’ gets the album off to a very strong start with Guenevere Measham’s cello making a significant contribution. She returns on the stunning title track and elsewhere and the enchanting instrumentation and empathic production (by Anders and Richard Barron) elevate ‘Not at One’ from a collection of songs to a state aspiring to artistic Nirvana. It really is that good- and if you don’t believe me have a listen to the samples on Eric’s site www.ericanders.com or tune into www.radiosix.com where Eric’s music is on the random playlist.
(Baggage Room Records)

(Reviewed by Phil Jackson)